Identification and quantification of Cinnamomum camphora seeds extract and development of citric acid and polyphenols based carboxymethyl chitosan-gum Arabic hybrid film for intelligent packaging applications

Abstract

In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan with gum Arabic (CG) based novel functional films containing Cinnamomum camphora seeds extract (CCSE) at varying concentrations (0.5, 1.2 and 2% in w/w) were successfully fabricated. Moreover, sixteen phenolic compounds were identified by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS and the most abundant organic acid was citric acid (present at 1062.55 µg/g dry weight in CCSE). SEM showed that higher extract concentration indicated a homogeneous surface and more stability of films. CCSE inclusion into CG resulted in a marked increase (33.01 to 63.23 MPa) of tensile properties, with optimum thickness. The swelling degree, water solubility, and water vapor permeability were markedly (p < 0.05) reduced from 54.21 to 31.70%, 32.05 to 14.02%, and 3.46 to 1.12 × 10−11g−1s−1Pa−1, respectively. The open control and CG samples showed much higher peroxide values of sunflower oil (69.49 ± 0.68 and 20.15 ± 0.31 mEq/kg, respectively) while CG-CCSE2 exhibited a low value (9.79 ± 0.28 mEq/kg) after 28 days incubation. The good antioxidant and antimicrobial properties exhibited by the fabricated films demonstrated their potential use in the food packaging industry.